Vulcanizing apparatus for tire tubes or covers.



W. 11.8. FROST. VULGANIZING APPARATUS FOR TIRE TUBES 0R COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 6,1909.

I Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES W. R. S. FROST. V'ULGANIZING APPARATUS FOR TIRE TUBES 03COVERS.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.6,1909.

Patented June 29, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi/tmeooeo WILLIAM ROBERT SALMON FROST OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

VULCANIZING APPARATUS FOR TIRE TUBES O'R COVERS.

Specification of Letters Pat-ea.

.Patented June 29, 1909.

Application filed February 6, 1909. Serial No. 476,412.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM IROBERT' SALMON F RosT, a subject of theKing of England, residing at London, England, have in vented certain newand useful Improvements in Vuleanizing Apparatus for Tire Tubes orCovers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vulcanizing apparatus for tire-tubes or coversand has particular reference to the apparatus of the kind in which theheat necessary for vulcanization is obtained by passing an electriccurrent through a conductor.

According to this invention the vulcanizer is so constructed as toprovide a flexible surface that adapts itself to the surface of the partunder treatment. For this purpose the .conductor may be flexible orarranged'to cooperate with a flexible heat conducting foundation towhich it gives up its heat. 'Theapparatus is thus adapted to makeintimate contact with tires of various shapes or with -different partsof a tire.

According to one method of carrying out this invention the vulcanizer ismade in the form of a flexible strip or band that may be wound aroundthe tube or bent over any part of it according to the character andsituation of the repair required.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of thevulcanizer in part section constructed according to one method ofcarrying out this invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing amodified form; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of another modification;Fig. 4 1s a perspective view of yet another modification, and Fig. 5shows in elevation a device for applying pressure to the vulcanizer.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

The form of vulcanizer shown in Fig. 1.

comprises a metal or other strip A that is a goo conductor of heatand-which forms the foundation for carrying the resistance wires B. Onthe wires glass or other insulating. -beads B are threaded. Preferablythese beads are D-shaped as shown and are placed with their flat facetoward the metal foundatron A whereby the wires, although insulated fromthe foundation, are brought as close to the same as ossible and thusreadily give up their heat t iereto. The wires are closed in by a cover0 that may be of any suitable flexible material such as rubber or canvasI continuous heat-conducting surface is presented to the tube E underrepair. It will be understood that the vulcanizer maybe made of anylength according to requirements and provided with terminals connectingthe wires B and affording means whereby they may be connected to asuitable source of electric current and instead of being wound aroundthe tube as 'shown, it may be laid circumferentially thereon or in anyother position that the re air demands. It will be seen that the metabase and in fact the whole vulcanizer provides a tape that'issufficiently strong to allow it to be tightly pulled when applying it,-for the purpose of causing it to bear with the necessary pressure uponthe part to be treated.

In Fig. 2 the conductor is made in the form of a gauze strip Fand thisis covered with material F that may give it the requisite tensilestrength and also conserve the heat. The gauze strip is connected to aterminal F and may be made of any length, the other end being similarlyprovided with a terminal to receive the wires from the battery or othersource of supply. With this form of vulcanizer the heated conductors maybe brought into direct contact with the surface to be treated.

In Fig. 3 the conductors G are shown as woven into the fabric G They maybe so woven as to appear on the surface if desired and in any case theyare preferably dlsposed nearer that side which is intended to be broughtinto contact with the part to be canizer shown in Fig. 1 instead of theplain strip illustrated.

1* ig. 4 shows an arrangement whereby any one conductor may be withdrawnshould it become damaged and another entered in its place. For thisurpose the conductors H are threaded with insulating beads H and each isseparately mounted in a tube J. These tubes-may be made of spirals ofwire and they may be secured by vulcanizing or otherwise to a backing K.r The backing provides the necessary means for conserving the heat andmay also provide the requisite tensile strength to the vulcanizer. ,Theresistance wires H may project through a metal block L that isvulcanized or otherwise secured on to the strip .K and their ends maybesoldered thereto and covered by a strip L detachably secured to theblock L. By removing the strip L access may be had to the ends of theconductors and thus any one maybe released and withdrawn for the urposeof substituting another. The tubes J may constitute the heat conductingmedium and may be a plied direct to the surface to be treated oit ey maybe covered with a thin metal p ate.

It will be understood that all of the vulcanizers shown in the drawingsmay be made of any length or shape according to requirement and for thisreason a portion of each construction only is shown.

In some cases it may be desirable to local-' ize the pressure on thevulcanizer. For this purpose the device shown in Fig. 5 may be employedand it comprises a leather or other flexlble strap M that has securedtoit a series of nuts or screw-threaded washers N. Through each nut athumb-screw N is passed and this carries a block N If it is desired toappl a flexible vulcanizer shown diagrammatica ly at O to a tire P whileon the felly P, the vulcanizer may be secured by passing the strap Maround the tire and the felly after the vulcanizer is in position andthe blocks. N 2 may be made to bear locally upon the vulcanizer. Afterthe strap has been drawn tight, further pressure may be 'pIut upon theblocks byrotati g the screws The position of the blocks can obviously bechanged by sliding the strap around in one direction or the other byentering the screws inidle nuts shown at N Instead of connecting all theconductors to a single terminal, their ends may be brought outseparately and connected to separate terminals so that they maybevarious y grouped when-using the apparatus to suit the voltageavailable.

If desired liquid, for instance water, may be employed as theheat-conducting medium and for this purpose the vulcanizer is madehollow, the interior being filled with the liquid and the conductorscarried through it. For instance, the filling D may be omitted from thevulcanizer shown in Fig. 1 and the space between the cover C and thefoundation A filled with water. It is found that with such anarrangement the heat is quickly conveyed from the resistance wires B tothe heat distributing surface A. Instead of a liquid a finely dividedsolid may be used for the-same pur ose.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. A vulcanizing device comprising a flexible metallic strip adaptedto be heated, and a flexible heat-conserving strip carried upon one faceof the first-mentioned strip, the Whole being in the form of a tape andadapted to make intimate contact with and to conform to the surface tobe vulcanized.

2. A vulcanizing device comprising a flexible metallic strip adapted tobe heated, and a flexible heat-conserving strip carried u pen one faceof the first-mentioned strip, said heat-conserving strip being somewhatnarrower than the other strip whereby to leave the latter uncoveredalong its lateral edges, the whole being in the form of a tape andadapted to make intimate contact with and to conform to the surface tobe vulcanized.

3. A vulcanizing device comprising a flexible heat-conducting metal basestrip, an electrical conductor in close proximity to the strip andinsulated therefrom, and a flexible cover of inferior heat-conductingmaterial arranged over the said electrical conductor.

4. A vulcanizing apparatus comprising a flexible heat-conserving strip,a plurality of metal tubes secured thereto, electrical resistance wirespassing through the tubes, and insulators carried by the wires withinthe tubes.

5.. A vulcanizing device comprising a flexi- "ble heat-conserving strip,a plurality of metal tubes secured thereto, electrical resistance wires(passing through the tubes, insulators carrie by the wires within thetubes a metal block secured .to the heat-conserving stri) and to whichblock one end of the wires 1s soldered and a covering strip detaehablysecured to the block over the soldered end of the wires.

6. Ina vulcanizin apparatus, the combination with a flexible strapadapted to be passed around a Wheel folly and a tire thereon and to haveits ends secured together, name to this specification in the presence ofthreadedl nutslonh the strapBl thlpmbscgegs two subscribing Witnesses.)assing t iroug 1 t emits, a 00 carrie y i 1 H iaach thumb-screw, and aflexible Vulcenizing WILLIAM ROBLRI SALMON FROST 5 device adapted-t0 beapplied to the tire and Witnesses:

to have the blocks pressed thereagainst. PERCY W. H. IIIGGINSON,

In testimeny whereof I have signed my H. D. JAMESON.

